Shocks galore in football title race

The third round of the Clare senior football championship produced its fair share of surprise results not least the elimination of Kilmurry-Ibrickane who lost out to Ennistymon at Cusack Park on Sunday. The winners showed from an early stage that it would take a big effort to stop them from marching on. They led by three points at half time and held this advantage throughout the third quarter. Kilmurry made a number of changes and this helped them get back into contention and they drew level inside the final ten minutes before a superb Ennistymon move ended with corner back Enda Ralph shooting to the net for the game’s only goal which helped them to a 1-9 to 0-9 victory.

On Saturday in Cooraclare, O’Currys proved too strong for a fancied Lissycasey side and scored a merited one point win, 0-7 to 0-6. The winners dominated the opening half and were full value for their 0-6 to 0-1 half time lead. Lissycasey improved as the second half wore on and drew level with five minutes remaining at 0-6 each. The winning score came from an Eoin Troy free a minute from the end of normal time

Title holders Cratloe scored an easy 0-20 to 1-5 victory over St. Senans Kilkee at Lissycasey on Sunday evening while, in the last of the third round games, St. Breckans put in a storming finish at Corofin on Sunday evening when they scored 1-3 without reply in the last six minutes to earn a 2-15 to 2-13 victory over a fancied St. Josephs Doora-Barefield side.

Meanwhile Doonbeg and Eire Og have made sure of their senior status for next season thanks to victories over Wolfe Tones and Shannon Gaels respectively on Saturday.

The way has been cleared for the intermediate semi-finals where Kilfenora will take on their North Clare neighbours Corofin while Kilmihil will face Clarecastle.

By Seamus Hayes